LIHUE — Ritikaa Kumar says she likes science because there are always questions that need to be answered.
“Science is always expanding,” she said.
The senior at Kapaa High School was one of 45 students who participated in this year’s science and engineering fair.
Usually, every district school has a science fair. But only two students from Kapaa High School signed up. Those students, Kumar and Marvin De Peralta, joined with students from Kauai High School, said Andrea Bell, a science teacher at Kauai High School.
Kumar’s project tested the amount of glyphosate, a weed killer, in local honey. Testing for glyphosate in honey was an idea Kumar and her science teacher, Nicole McKamey, had been tossing around for two years.
“She made it to the district competition two years in a row, but never made it to state level, which was heartbreaking for her,” McKamey said. “So I decided it would be best for her to take a break and take time to think of a really good idea.”
The extra time also gave them a chance to find a mentor.
“I can only do so much,” she said. “The students who make it to state usually have a professional scientist as a mentor.”
That’s when Carl Berg, a marine biologist and ecologist, came into the picture.
“I knew he and Ritikaa would be a good fit, so I begged him to help us,” McKamey said.
Berg, who served as a mentor for science fair competitors for years, planned to take a break this year. But he decided to be involved because it was a project that had never been done before, he said.
Going to “uncharted territory” was one of the reasons Kumar decided to do the project.
“I’m big into the GMO movement, and everyone is passionate about it,” she said.
It took Kumar seven months to collect honey samples from around the island. She had help from beekeepers Jimmy Trujillo and Doug Gates, who helped her network with other beekeepers to gather samples. She gathered a total of 36 samples.
After getting samples, she sent them to a lab in Honolulu and a lab in Germany.
“We wanted to compare the results that were gathered from two different methods to see if they were similar,” Kumar said.
Both lab tests yielded the same results — the area around Kupua and Kapena had the highest levels of glyphosate.
“It’s concerning because pesticides shouldn’t be in honey, and now beekeepers have to question whether or not their honey is safe to sell,” Trujillo said.
High dosages of glyphosate can cause cancer and miscarriages, according to motherearthnews.com.
The new finding may explain why some bee colonies are dying, Trujillo added.
On Wednesday, the students’ hard work paid off with an awards ceremony at the Kauai High School library.
Their projects were judged by 14 science professionals in the community and 11 advanced placement science students who analyzed the projects on their research question, design and methodology, execution, creativity and presentation. The judges chose five winners from each school and 10 honorable mentions. Winners are sent to a district fair and the chance to compete in national and international fairs.
Kumar, who has been entering science fairs since she was in elementary school, said it’s her dream to compete at the international level.
“I love science fair projects and being in a judging atmosphere,” she said.
Her project won first place for Kapaa High School. But her work is also getting county recognition.
In October, she presented her findings to the Joint Fact Finding group, an organization made up of health specialists, attorneys and other officials that researches and publicizes information about pesticides.
“I never thought the project was going to be as big as it became,” Kumar said.
Berg, who serves as an “informational liaison” for the Joint Fact Finding group, said the study is important because it provides scientists with new information.
“There’s always concern about GMOs, but there was no study done in honey,” he said. “But now we have some data out there and people need to be careful.”
Kumar plans to pursue genetics in college, and has advice for upcoming science students.
“Keep on trying and enjoy what you do,” she said. “Dream big and take every opportunity.”
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Jenna Carpenter, education reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or jcarpenter@thegardenisland.com.
The winners of the science and and engineering fair are:
Kapaa High School:
• First place: Ritikaa Kumar
• Second place: Marvin De Peralta
Kauai High School:
• First place: Jacky Lin
• Second place: Kathleen Kozub
• Third place: Akira Takabayashi
• Fourth place: Matthew Nishimoto
• Fifth Place: Kaylee Braun
Honorable mentions:
• Brooke Kanna, Kauai High School
• Jaya-Lynne Ruiz-Acantilado, Kauai High School
• Jeffrey Patterson, Kauai High School
• Kaylin Kukino, Kauai High School
• Kimberly Matutina, Kauai High School
• Geneva Dela Cruz, Kauai High School
• Danica Ola, Kauai High School
• Leanna Thesken, Kauai High School
• Josiah Costales, Kauai High School
• Shaelynn Erickson, Kauai High School
